Peter Grant states why he has a ‘question mark’ over Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic

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The January transfer window is open and there is only one thing on the minds of Celtic supporters.

Will Kieran Tierney return to Celtic from Arsenal? There is a lot of noise around the left-back’s future as clubs around Europe aim to further strengthen their squads.

The 27-year-old has suffered several injuries over the years and it has halted his progress after his transfer from Celtic to Arsenal in 2019, including a loan spell at Real Sociedad last season where he only managed to play 26 matches in all competitions.

In the summer, Tierney picked up a hamstring injury for Scotland at Euro 2024 and only returned to action last month as the Gunners beat Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-finals.

But Mikel Arteta has kept the Scotsman on the bench since then, including teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly playing in front of him.

All whilst talk of Celtic looking to re-sign Tierney hots up, but Peter Grant expressed why he has doubts over this deal.

Peter Grant questions Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic from Arsenal

In Rodgers’ first spell, he was utterly dominant and Tierney played a key role from the left-hand side, so he knows the Irishman’s game inside out.

But Grant raised a ‘question mark’ because he is unsure if the boyhood Celtic fan is able to play all the games, as he told Go Radio.

Given that Celtic are the dominant side in Scotland, then it would allow Rodgers to freely rotate someone like Tierney, compared to in England where Arsenal are searching for their first league title since 2004, but it still doesn’t take away the sheer pressure he has to play under.

“As the player fully fit, he is the best left-back we have got and he would be the best left-sided centre-back when he plays with the national team,” said Grant.

“There is absolutely no doubting his quality. My question mark is, is he going to play all the games? That’s even in Scotland. I know people will say, ‘oh, it’s Scottish football’ or whatever. But you can’t invest that type of money if you aren’t allowed to select someone and Kieran was the one who was constantly playing the last time. That was the difference.”

Unfair criticism of Greg Taylor amid Tierney talk

Greg Taylor is Celtic’s starting left-back, but he is out-of-contract in the summer, just like Tierney, and fans are unsure if he will sign a new deal.

Whether Taylor stays or goes, that’s an area of the pitch that needs to be looked at because it’s one that divides fans.

Added to that, if loan signing Alex Valle returns to Barcelona as expected and loaned-out star Alex Bernabei moves on, then a natural left-sided player will be needed, with Grant critical of the ‘unfair criticism’ that has been aimed at Taylor.

“There is maybe something in because of the fact that Greg Taylor’s contract keeps getting talked about and that doesn’t look as though it’s getting any closer or closed, I should say,” added Grant.

“Valle is staying until the end of the season. That will be interesting. A fully fit Kieran Tierney obviously makes you 100% stronger.

“That’s no disrespect to the boys we have got because I think Taylor has been outstanding. I think he gets a lot of unfair criticism. I think Valle has done very well. But Kieran Tierney is a different level.”